Hanoi (VNA) – ꧟National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on June 17 held separate meetings with newly-accredited ambassadors of the EU, the UK and Germany.

At a reception for Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam Bruno Angelet, the top legislator stressed that the EU is Vietnam’s second largest trade partner, top investor and non-refundable aid supplier. Two-way trade hit 41.8 billion USD in 2015, up 12 percent from the previous year. She called on the EU to soon complete the last procedures for the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) to take effect, work together with the Southeast Asian nation in reviewing legal issues and speeding up the ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and recognise Vietnam’s market economy status. The NA Chairwoman highlighted the European Parliament (EP)’s important role in enhancing the multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and the EU, saying the friendship between the Vietnamese law-making body and the EP has also been stepped up. The host noted her wish that the EU will raise its voice and take constructive actions to contribute to maintaining peace and security in Asia-Pacific, including the East Sea. For his part, Bruno Angelet promised to share the EU’s development experience with Vietnam during his tenure in the country. Regarding the EVFTA, the ambassador said he will made proposals for the early ratification of the deal. Meeting with Ambassador of the UK Giles Lever, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan spoke highly of the collaboration between the two countries across all fields. She called for the diplomat’s contributions to increasing the presence of UK businesses in Vietnam in such areas as finance and banking, infrastructure development, insurance, science and technology, oil and gas, and aviation. Vietnam wishes to receive the UK Government’s assistance to deal with climate change, salinity intrusion and drought challenging the country’s central and Central Highlands regions, the legislative leader noted. Giles Lever, in reply, said UK investors highly appreciate Vietnam’s dynamic development and want to increase their presence in Southeast Asia and in Vietnam in particular. According to the ambassador, the two countries boast substantial potential for cooperation, spanning the realms of education and training and science and technology. At a meeting with German Ambassador Christian Berger, the NA leader affirmed that Germany is Vietnam’s trustworthy partner. She proposed that the diplomat promote trade and investment ties between the two countries in order to bring the bilateral trade to 15-20 billion USD in 2020. The host thanked the German Government for its marked official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam over the past while, saying the aid is significant to the country’s socio-economic development and international integration, particularly in its priority spheres like vocational training, renewable energy and climate change combat. The Vietnamese NA is perfecting the country’s legal system, especially in the judicial sector, she said, calling for Germany’s support and cooperation in this field. Christian Berger stated that Vietnam is not included in the list of countries to which Germany will cut its ODA as his country considers the Southeast Asian nation a strategic partner. Germany stands ready to share its development experience with Vietnam, covering skill improvement for labourers, he said, suggesting the country establish a vocational training system based on businesses’ real demands. The ambassador proposed setting up a joint chamber of commerce and industry to help the two sides acquire investment climate-related information in their respective countries in a bid to strengthen their affiliation in economy, trade and investment in the time ahead.-VNA